Pneumatic jack.



L. A. FLEURY.

PNEUMATIC JACK.

APPLICATION HLED sEPT.2o. 1917` Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

il @l LOUIS A. FLEURY, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC JACK.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application led September 20, 1917. Serial No. 192,399.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Louis A. FLEURY, a citizen f the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a lifting device, preferably in the form of a jack for elevating vehicles, and is actuated by Huid under pressure. In connection with motor vehicles it is especially applicable, as I am enabled to utilize compressed air generated by the motor, or coming` from a compression tank, and thus provide a jack which may be utilized for raising the vehicle at any required location, and which may be automatically accomplished by such power without the necessity of manual labor other than placing the jack in position, all of which will hereinafter be more specifically explained in detail.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle showing my improved jack applied to the rear axle in position to elevate the vehicle; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view of said jack vwhen the structure has been actuated *by fluid pressure, and Fig. 3 is a 'similar view when the fluid has been released showing the jack in normal position.

In said drawing I have chosen to illustrate my improved jack designed to be operated by compressed air, but it will be understood that other fluid than compressed air may be utilized without departin from the general principles of constructlon. It consists essentially of a collapsible chamber and may comprise a series of small folds which can be alternately expanded and conber of cylindrical or other form composed of folds as indicated, said chamber being preferably mounted upon a base, as 8, of any form and in any appropriate manner. In the interior of the chamber I arrange a standard, 6, tubular or otherwise, which may bc mounted upon a base 7 connected to the base 8, or-in any suitable manner. Said standard 6 extends upwardly through said chamber to any extent desired, and at the upper side of the chamber I mount the lifting jack 9, preferably comprising a tubular member, secured theretoby rivets or'otherwise, and which at its upper end is provided with a seat, as 10, for the reception of a vehicle axle or other part to' be raised, said standard 6 and tube 9 being in telescopic relation to each other, and the latter constituting an extension of the air chamber. At any approprlate part of the air containing structure` either in the chamber 5 or tubular member 9, I place an inlet valve, 11, which communicates with a source of air supply, such as the motor of the vehicle or otherwise, for the introduction of fluid to expand the chamber. Also, wherever desirable, an outlet or exhaust valve, 12, is provided for exhausting the air supply to contract said chamber.

In operation, the jack, in collapsed condition, is placed under the part of the vehicle to be raised, for example, as indicated in Fig. 1. Compressed air is then introduced into the dhamber 5 through a conduit, as 13,

communicating with the motor of the vehicle or otherwise, and it will be understood that any appropriate arrangement for supplying such air, or other fluid,imay be arranged and employed as desired. As the air discharges into said chamber, the folds thereof become inflated and as they distend they gradually raise the jack 9, which in turn raises the vehicle. As indicated in Fig. 2, the range of upward movement of the jack is considerable, but which may he increased or decreased with a Huid receiving chamber of greater or lesser dimensions, and for urpose of illustration I have shown said c amber composed of three folds. When it is desired to lower the vehicle this can be readily accomplished .by adjusting the cock, 12, to permit the escape of the fluid, which is vfurther accelerated by the weight of the gradually descending vehicle, so that when the latter reaches the ground the chamber is collapsed, as indicated in Figs. l and 3, and in condition to be removed and stored. In this manner I provide a very simple and convenient pneumatic jack which can be readily operated without labor or diliculty, and which can. be utilized in unfavorable situations along the roads or otherwise when employed in connection with a, motor vehicle, but, as

be employed will be understood, it mag; d

ere ui presunder any circumstances w sure is available. e

It will also be understood that my improved jack may be operated by a hand airpump, not requiring a direct mechanical ap- Aplication of power, as is the case with common types of jacks, -and in which manner it can be more convenlently and uickly operated than the ordinary jack, w ich latter is frequently used in similar situations, for instance, under a vehicle, where the direct application of mechanical power is la very diflicult matter.

I have shown a chamber comprising three folds offflexible material, but do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to such particular construction, for, as is obvious,

one or more of such folds may be dispensed with and the required lifting` power accomplished `by slight modification in the size and arrangement of said chamber and telescoping members.

I claim as my invention:

1A. A vorta'ble fluid-actuated jack comprising a mounted thereon, a lifting member associated with said chamber, a standard rising from said base and extending into said lifting member in telescopic relation thereto, means for introducing uid into said chamber for inflating the same and raising said lifting member, and means for permitting ase, a collapsible fluid chamber lthe escape of said fluid to lower said mem 2. A portable fluid-actuated jack comprisl ing a flexible fluid chamber composed of a series of collapsible folds, a lifting member associated with said chamber, a standard rising from said chamber and extending into said lifting member in telescopic relation thereto, means for introducing Huid into said chamber to iniiate said folds and raise said lifting member, and means for deating b lsaid chamber rising from said base, a tubular lifting member secured to the upper side of said collapsible chamber and telescoping upon said standard, and means for introducing fluid into said chamber' for actuating said lifting member.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature i in the presence of -two witnesses.

LOUIS A. FLEURY.

Witnesses: a

CHARLES R. DILL, LEE R. GARBER. 

